kann ich dich anrufen?
The English phrase 'can I call you?' is translated into German as kann ich dich anrufen?
This phrase is used to request permission to contact someone via telephone. To be precise, the verb anrufen refers specifically to calling someone on the phone, which distinguishes it from rufen, which means to shout or call out to someone who is physically present.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb anrufen is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix an- moves to the end of the sentence when the verb is conjugated, as seen in the example Ich rufe dich an.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun changes depending on who you are addressing: use dich for one person informally, Sie for one or more people formally and euch if you are asking for permission to call more than one person whom you address informally. You may also use Darf ich dich kurz anrufen? to mean 'May I call you briefly?'
Did you know?
- German has a specific word for the 'calling' sound a phone makes, called Klingeln, which also describes the sound of a physical bell.
- The English word 'I' shares a very distant linguistic ancestor with the German 'ich', both tracing back to Proto-Indo-European roots.
- In German, if you want to ask if someone can call you back, you would not use anrufen, but rather the verb zurückrufen.
Examples in context
- Können wir telefonieren? Ich hätte gerne weitere Informationen zu Ihrem Produkt.Can we talk on the phone? I would like more information about your product.
- Wäre es möglich, Sie anzurufen? Ich habe einige Fragen bezüglich der Vertragsgestaltung.Would it be possible to call you? I have some questions regarding the contract design.
- Kann ich dich anrufen? Ich möchte mit dir über unser Wochenendtreffen sprechen.Can I call you? I want to talk to you about our weekend meeting.
Example conversation
Julian and Laura are talking on the street after a brief meeting.
- JulianKann ich dich anrufen?Can I call you?
- LauraJa, gerne!Yes, gladly!
- JulianHast du heute Abend Zeit?Do you have time this evening?
- LauraJa, das passt gut.Yes, that works well.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries anrufen, dich, ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
